The nest was full this week with my two adult children, my daughter A and my son D as they arrived from the big city to visit with me in the suburbs. I was so pleased to have them home…to enjoy their company and to “break bread” with those I love.
“What’s on the menu?” asked A. “What are you cooking?”
Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Goat Cheese from the Smitten Kitchen Blog
“Saturday is chili, Sunday is spinach pie, Monday is BBQ salmon with a new sweet potato side dish from the Smitten Kitchen blog,” I replied. I made sure that my fridge was filled with food and my cupboard adequately stacked with snacks. “There’s a whole half-pound of American cheese just for D,” I said, so pleased that I remembered to stop by the deli counter when I was grocery shopping. D likes to have American cheese on his bagels for breakfast.
It felt good to be mom for a week. Playing “where did all the water glasses go” each day. I knew where to find them – buried in different spots in D’s room.
It felt good to be mom for a week. A and I went shopping to Nordstrom to check out the new styles from the pre-spring catalog. “Do you want to share the ‘girlfriends’ dressing’ room?” asked the saleswoman J. “Ooh, ooh, ooh, there is a girlfriends’ dressing room. Wow-o-wow. Of course A and I want to share the girlfriends’ dressing room,” I said. It was big enough for two – mother and daughter.
It felt good to be mom for a week. Giving lots of hugs and kisses to A and D and sending them to bed each night with a round of “I love you’s,” just like we used to do when they were young. “I love you too,” said A and D before bedtime.
It felt good to be mom for a week. We cuddled on the couch and caught up on some movies we had missed – Brave and Ruby Sparks – two cute flicks. “How can you possibly watch a Pixar movie (Brave) without a Blu-Ray player?” said D. “I cannot believe you don’t have a Blu-Ray player. You know you eventually will not be able to watch DVDs in the future if you don’t get a Blu-Ray player,” said D. “Really?” I said showing my boomer girl technological ignorance.
The Terrain Cafe in Glen Mills, Pa
It felt good to be mom for a week. I took A and D out to lunch at the Terrain cafe, located in my favorite home and garden shop in Glen Mills, Pa. We each picked a different entree – goat cheese omelet for me, braised short rib sandwich for A and portabella mushroom sandwich for D. A also ordered the special snickerdoodle latte which was oh so sweet with a scent of fresh vanilla. And we all adored breaking (and eating) the warm bread that had been baked in a clay flowerpot and sharing the cinnamon apple cobbler dessert from a mini-iron skillet.
“I’m so lucky to have a mom like you,” said A. “You introduced us to the joy of good food, you taught us to love trendy fashions, and you encouraged us to travel and learn about the world.” “I’m so lucky to have two great kids who I can enjoy good food with, who I can shop till I drop with, and who want to travel with me to Paris and Provence” I said. “I cannot think of better partners to celebrate my retirement trip with this summer – c’est merveilleux!”
We left the Terrain cafe and headed home. It was hailing and heavy rain. D drove as I navigated – being a good mom, I reminded D several times to be careful and go slow. There was only one detour left on our trip – a stop at the electronics store to purchase a Blu-Ray player. “I will only buy a Blu-Ray player if you will set it up before you go back to the big city,” I said. “Don’t I always?” D responded.
Yes, it felt good to be mom for a week and break bread with those I love. And now I also have a brand new Blu-Ray player so I can watch Blu-Ray movies. Ooh, ooh, ooh, now I can rent The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at Redbox. They only had a Blu-Ray copy the last time I was at the store – c’est merveilleux!
Uh oh, uh oh. I forgot to ask D to show me how the Blu-Ray player works.
Judi
It is the sweetest thing when everyone, over the course of a week long visit, is the best of the people they’ve become, and TAKES the time to say, “You are so awesome.” And won’t we overlook any amount of laundry and clutter just to see those faces and hear those words.
Susan, thanks for your comment. It is great to be a mom no matter how old our kids get.
While I am in a slightly different stage of life (an older mom with young children), I’m greatly enjoying your perspective.
While I would like to say that I also enjoy Terrain, the truth is that I merely glance at it longingly on the way to Target, usually having to purchase poster board for a last minute school project.
Maryann, thanks for your note. I don’t always shop at Terrain. It’s also a great place or website to go to for decorating and gardening ideas. And then go to Target and DIY!
Mary Ann, thanks for your note. You should take a break sometime and just walk inside Terrain. It’s a great place just to get some gardening and decorating ideas. You can always purchase similar styles at Target and enjoy making the projects with your kids.
Lovely post! I understand since my kids are about the same age. It’s great to be a mom again when they come home for short visits.
I recognized Terrain in the photos! My husband has to be extra careful with his diet and only eats organic now so for my birthday I went for lunch with husband, daughter & son. Love Terrain!
Diane, thanks for your comment. So glad you enjoy Terrain. It’s a great shop.